While installing a new variable ratio steering box today, I noticed that after centering the gearbox off the car, and then installing it, the wheels are turning right (about a quarter of the travel)! I would assume that since this is a variable ratio, the box has to be centered, and the wheels straight. The tie rods on both sides are equal, but something is obviously wrong as the relay rod is not centered on the oil pan as it should be.

All of the Saginaw gears (variable ratio or not) are designed with a "high spot" right on center. The "high spot" is actually a slight interference designed into the gear set so the on-center feel going down the road is as precise as possible.

Here is a complete procedure for centering your steering wheel. It is very important to start with your steering gear exactly on center. Park your car in a place where you can work on it yet be able to drive it straight ahead a short distance to check how it tracks.

First rotate your steering wheel from full lock in one direction to full lock in the other and count the total number of revolutions of the steering wheel (X). Divide that number in half (X/2). Now go to full lock turn in either direction and come back exactly one half your number of steering wheel turns (X/2). Now your steering gear is exactly on center. Open the hood and take a crayon or piece of chalk and make a mark right on the top of the flexible steering shaft coupling. Now you have a mark that you can reference when your gear is right on center.

Now drive your car straight ahead a short distance in order to establish the position of the steering gear and the steering wheel with the road wheels pointing straight ahead. With the wheels in the straight ahead position, check the mark on the flexible coupling. (The mark should be right on top.) If the gear has moved off its center position you will need to adjust the tie rods so that the mark is again right on top.

If your steering wheel needs to be rotated clockwise in order to bring the steering gear on center, you will need to shorten the left tie rod assembly and lengthen the right tie rod. If the steering wheel needs to be rotated counterclockwise, the left needs to be lengthened and the right one shortened.

Loosen the tie rod adjuster clamps on both the left and right tie rods, then turn both tubes an equal number of turns in the same direction to bring the gear back on center. DO NOT turn the sleeves an unequal number of turns or you will change your front wheel toe setting.

With the wheels straight ahead and your steering gear on center, now check your steering wheel alignment. The 6 o'clock spoke measured right at the steering wheel rim should be within 1 inch of being exactly at the bottom. If the wheel is not in alignment, remove it and reindex the hub on the steering column to center the wheel.

Once you have the steering wheel hub positioned on the steering shaft so that the steering wheel is as close to being matched to the straight ahead position as the serrations will allow, you can tweak the tie rods one last time to position the steering wheel exactly on center.

JIML82, Thanks for the reply. I had your post dated 7-6-2004 about centering the steering, and had been using that and the AGR instructions. My problem is, that when the steering box is centered and I connect the pitman arm to the relay rod, the steering linkage is shifted to the right. This is puzzeling as I didn't have a problem previously. It's almost as if the pitman arm is off a spline or two. I could adjust the tie rods, but with the relay rod already shifted to the right, I won't have equal left & rt turning. I'll call AGR in the morning and see what they think.

I may have found the problem. Years ago a got a power steering pump, box w/ pitman arm and all the ctr & idler arms from a 69 Chevelle to convert my 67 from manual to power steering. It worked perfectly until I tried to put the AGR box on. I noticed that 68-72 PS pitman arms are available, so there must be a difference w/ the 67 PS pitman arm. Why won't this box work with the 69 linkage?